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Issue: Vol. 2806 No. 1: 31 Mar. 2011
Type: Articles
Published: 2011-03-31
DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.2806.1.3
Page range: 35–52
Abstract views: 85
PDF downloaded: 1

Adding another piece to the cynipoid puzzle: the description of a new tribe, genus and species of gall wasp (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae) endemic to The Republic of South Africa

Swedish Species Information Centre, Swedish Agricultural University, P.O.Box 7007, SE-750 07 Uppsala, Sweden
Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (CSIC), Departamento de Biodiversidad y Biología Evolutiva, C/ José Gutiérrez Abascal 2, ES-28006 Madrid, Spain
ARC-Plant Protection Research Institute,. Private Bag X134, Pretoria, 0001, South Africa
Pest Diagnostic Laboratory, Plant Protection & Soil Conservation Directorate of County Vas, Ambrozy setany 2, 9762 Tanakajd, Hungary
Hymenoptera Cynipoidea Qwaqwaiini Qwaqwaia inquiline parasitoid Scolopia

Abstract

Larvae and adult females of a single species inducing galls on Scolopia mundii (Salicaceae) are described as Qwaqwaia scolopiae Liljeblad, Nieves-Aldrey & Melika sp. n. The genus Qwaqwaia Liljeblad, Nieves-Aldrey & Melika gen. n. is also described as new and placed in a tribe, Qwaqwaiini Liljeblad, Nieves-Aldrey & Melika trib. n., herein erected to encompass this sole species. Diagnostic characters and a key to all eight cynipid tribes are given. With its unique South African distribution and seemingly plesiomorphic morphology, this gall wasp is important for the future untangling of the early evolution of the microcynipoids.

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